OK. Had a pool growing up, tech seems to have changed a lot!

Am in Massachusetts -- Boxborough to be specific.

Pool is an inground 18x36 SeeBlue installed in 2000 or so. Not sure of the depth and thus the water capacity.

Pool has a non-functional EUS PE52 Mark 6 heat pump.

No cover, Polaris 165 skimmer that has its front wheel taped up and a float hose that's too long.

Pump is a Hayward Super Pump C48K2N143B1, 1 HP, VOLTS-115/230, AMPS-15.0/7.5, HZ-60, SF-1.1, 0.75 KW, 3450 RPM

Biggest questions:
1) solar covers seem out of favor, but heat loss at night here will be bad, so I think I should get one -- type? color? mils?
2) pool robot -- which kind? don't want to spend summer vacuuming like I did as a kid if possible
3) autoreel for cover? inground automatic cover?
4) heat pump heater +/- solar heater. cost? diy options?

Thanks,
Anand